Which of the 2 gives Sonny Liston the tougher fight?? Frazier,we have a ton of film on , whilst there's frustratingly little film on Wills , so you have to lean on reports and style descriptions. Any way,as it says?
Wills had the style to frustrate Liston. He had a lot of the old-school clinching techniques, and he had the height and reach to hit and move or clinch. Frazier would have to come right at Liston, who had superior height and reach, and as such might play right into his powerful hands. Two punchers meet, and though Liston might have been slower and less busy, he was so powerful with everything. Conversely, Wills would have used more cleverness and frustration tactics that would bother Liston.
Wills was overrated. Frazier gives Liston a tougher fight but he gets knocked out in mid to late rounds while Wills gets KO’s in first or second round.
Wills does better but I think they both lose. Frazier just doesnt know anything else but to come forward and that is a death sentence against someone like Sonny. Will can have success but I feel like he'd get caught and stopped in the later rounds.
Wills liked to clinch and punch and he was usually the stronger man,I don't think that would be the case with Sonny.From what I've gleaned from Adam Pollack's excellent Dempsey trilogy, Harry changed his style as he got older and went from a more long range fighter, to a hold and hit mauler.I think Liston is superior to Wills in every department including chin,so I would expect Liston to stop him in the later rounds. I would also have picked Dempsey to do it ,and probably early. Frazier coming in to Liston doesn't see the 6th round imo.If Sonny could pick his ideal opponent ,a short swarmer would be his meat.
